Releasing Guppy Fry..

[cpeckford]

I have 10 guppy fry that are 2 weeks old and about an 1/2 inch in length (I've been feeding them boiled egg yolk and guess its what made them this big that fast). I was wondering what is the length they should be before releasing them in the main tank.... I have a 20 gallon with gourami's, danio's, platies, guppies, a pepper cory and a synodontis catfish (not really sure how to take care of this one...still reading about it)...

Any advice would be great!! Thanks!

 

[Thomas 2507]

Just when they aren't small enough to fit in the other fish mouths. This is usually after six weeks when they begin to show colour.

 

[5teady_2012]

If i was you, i would release them at the age of 6-8 weeks to make sure they will be 100% safe..

 

[cpeckford]

Thanks for the reply!!

I think that they are changing color now. Is that possible?? Some have a brownish/clear color to them and the rest are yellowish/clear...They were all clearish when they were born but not now...?? This is my frist lot of fry so I'm still learning.

They are in a 2 gallon tank right now and I have a light (mostly for heat) turned on from 10 in the morning till about 10 in the night. Is this a good thing to be doing? I mean will the heat help them to growing faster? Also the advice about putting them in when the other fish can't eat them...they seem to be fairly big to not fit into the gourami's mouth. He's just a dwarf gourami.. Does that make any difference lol. I forget to mention that.

I've read so many things and it's hard to judge what to go by lol.


Thanks again!!

 

[5teady_2012]

Thanks for the reply!!

I think that they are changing color now. Is that possible?? Some have a brownish/clear color to them and the rest are yellowish/clear...They were all clearish when they were born but not now...?? This is my frist lot of fry so I'm still learning.

They are in a 2 gallon tank right now and I have a light (mostly for heat) turned on from 10 in the morning till about 10 in the night. Is this a good thing to be doing? I mean will the heat help them to growing faster? Also the advice about putting them in when the other fish can't eat them...they seem to be fairly big to not fit into the gourami's mouth. He's just a dwarf gourami.. Does that make any difference lol. I forget to mention that.

I've read so many things and it's hard to judge what to go by lol.


Thanks again!!

If you think that they wont fit in any of the fishes mouth, then you can release them..

I leave all my tank lights on for 12 hours a day

My guppy had fry last night and they was all clear color (except 1 who was slightly yellow), today they have darkened a bit so i would not worry about that m8...

 

[cpeckford]

Thanks!! I might get my nerve up to put them in later this week. I don't want anything to happen to them but I'm almost 100% positive they won't fit.. Little buggers are pretty fast so I think they might have a chance!

Thanks again for the info

 

[Thomas 2507]

I keep the lights on for six hours a day to keep algae to a minimum.

They will show some colour at the moment, but expect them to develop deeper and more detailed colouration and markings over the next few weeks. Females usually develop faster than males (this is why some people think all of their fry are females at first).

I would release them into the main tank at around six weeks.

 

[5teady_2012]

Thanks!! I might get my nerve up to put them in later this week. I don't want anything to happen to them but I'm almost 100% positive they won't fit.. Little buggers are pretty fast so I think they might have a chance!

Thanks again for the info

Try putting a few in and see how they go, that way if they do happen to get eaten, you wont lose them all...

 

[cpeckford]

Good idea!! Will post again later to tell what happened!! Wish me luck! I might have a heart attack if one on my babies just happens to get eatin' lol (but like I said I don't think they will)

Thanks again!!

 

[Thomas 2507]

How densely planted is your tank? A few of my guppy fry escaped from the breeding trap (don't ask) a few months ago into my main tank. My main tank had loads of big fish such as danios and gourami so I just assumed they got eaten and didn't even look. A few weeks later I saw one at the surface and found them all still living! My tank only had two or three small plants. I'm sure they'll be fine.

 

[cpeckford]

This is what my tank looks like:
http/www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2223...mp;id=612160222

There is another small plant in the left corner that the pic don't get..... There not real plants but next week I'm going to invest in some real ones. Not sure what kind I can get here where I live so I jyst have to make due with what i can get lol....

** I just put one of the fry into the tank... The Danio's started to chase it but didn't try that hard to cath it... the Plat looked at it and turned away but the grourami's haven't seensmelled(?) it yet I don't think (can fish smell?? lol) but then it went behind the heater and I haven't seen it in a little while...Think it found a good hiding spot lol


This is photo's of my other tank (30 gallon with 2 oscars..was taken back in Oct so there much bigger now) and some other shots of the 20 gallon with the guppies and platies, etc...
http/www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5522...mp;id=612160222

 

[Thomas 2507]

It's not very densely planted but it has a good chance. Fry know what to do. How many fry do you have? I would put two or three in there and if they don't survive - not the end of the world. You still hav emore and your livebearers will give you more on a monthly basis!

If your gourami and danios are anything like mine - the fry doesn't stand a chance but like I said - mine survived although my tank was a lot larger and had more hiding places than yours.

 

[cpeckford]

10 fry. The one I just put in is hiding inside the plant on the left at the bottom! lol. I have 9 left in the 2 gallon and my 2 females are pregnant. One is half way there and the one that had the 10 fry I have now is HUGE. And its only been 2 weeks since she had the last ones.......Unfortunatly the male died 2 days ago. I'm sure at least one of the fry will be male lol.

What would be your suggestion if I had to buy another breeder box and kept the fry in there for a month and then let them in the main tank... would the amount of space not allow them to grow?? Instead on moving them to the 2 gallon...

Also my tank is a 20 gallon (high).. Could someone suggest something to place in there for them to hide in other then plants?? Would there be anything else that would do the trick?

 

[Thomas 2507]

More plants for hiding places. You said you were getting some real plants - get java moss. It will be virtually impossible for large fish to eat the fry when they hide in the moss.

As for the breeder - yes it is enough room. I would suggest having two though and have five fry in each so they have enough room. As soon as six weeks comes around let them out.

 

[cpeckford]

Will do. Won't beable to get new boxes till next week so the rest are just gonna have to stay where they are for now. lol..... Will post if the fry I added to the main tank get's eaten!!

Thanks again